BHISHMAVADHA PARVA: Chapter 69

The commencement of the fifth day's fight

संजय उवाच व्युषितायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे। उभे सेने महाराज युद्धायैव समीयतुः॥
Sanjaya said When that night had passed away and when the sun had risen, the two armies O mighty monarch, encountered each other for battle.

अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धाः परस्परजिगीषवः। ते सर्वे सहिता युद्धे समालोक्य परस्परम्॥
LoO king at each other in that battle, they rushed against each other in serried files, inflamed with rage and desirous of slaying and conquering each other.

पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च राजन् दुर्मन्त्रिते तव। व्यूहौ च व्यूह्य संरब्धाः सम्प्रहृष्टाः प्रहारिणः॥
In consequence of your wicked counsel, O king, the Pandavas and the Dhritarashtra, filled with joy, clad in mail and formed in battle array, rushed against one another for striking one another.

अरक्षन्मकरव्यूह भीष्मो राजन् समन्ततः। तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्नरक्षन् व्यूहमात्मनः॥
O monarch, Bhishma protected on all sides the array of his troops that figured the Makara. O king, so also, the sons of Pandu protected the array that they had formed with their troops.

स निर्ययौ महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव। महता रथवंशेन संवृतो रथिनां वरः॥
Then, O mighty monarch, your sire Devavrata, that foremost of car-warriors, marched forth surrounded by a mighty host of cars.

इतरेतरमन्वीयुर्यथाभागमवस्थिताः। रथिनः पत्तयश्चैव दन्तिनः सादिनस्तथा॥
And other car-warriors, foot-soldiers tuskers and horse-soldiers, followed him each stationed in his proper rank.

तान् दृष्ट्वाभ्युद्यतान् संख्ये पाण्डवा हि यशस्विनः। श्येनेन व्यूहराजेन तेनाजव्येन संयुगे॥
The sons of Pandu endued with fame, seeing the Kauravas ready for the encounter, formed their troops in that invincible and excellent array that figures a hawk.

अशोभत मुखे तस्य भीमसेनो महाबलः। नेत्रे शिखण्डी दुर्धर्षो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः॥
And in the backs of that hawk-like array shone Bhimasena possessed of great strength. In its eyes Shikhandin and the irrepressible Dhrishtadyumna the of Prishata.

शीर्षे तस्याभवद् वीरः सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः। विधुन्वन् गाण्डिवं पार्थो ग्रीवायामभवत् तदा॥
In its head was stationed the heroic Satyaki of invincible prowess; and in its neck was Partha wielding the Gandiva bow.

अक्षौहिण्या समं तत्र वामपक्षोऽभवत् तदा। महात्मा द्रुपदः श्रीमान् सह पुत्रेण संयुगे।॥
The high-souled Drupada ever attended with prosperity, along with his son, and supported by a Akshauhini of troops, formed its left wing. were son

दक्षिणश्चाभवत् पक्षः कैकेयोऽक्षौहिणीपतिः। पृष्ठतो द्रौपदेयाश्च सौभद्रश्चापि वीर्यवान्॥
Its right wing was formed by Kaikeya the commander of a division consisting of a Akshauhini; in its back were the sons of Draupadi and the highly powerful son of Subhadra.

पृष्ठे समभवच्छ्रीमान् स्वयं राजा युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातृभ्यां सहितो वीरो यमाभ्यां चारुविक्रमः॥
In its tail was the heroic and even prosperous king Yudhishthira himself endued with great prowess, and supported by his twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva.

प्रविश्य त रणे भीमो मकरं मुखतस्तदा। भीष्ममासाद्य संग्रामे च्छादयामास सायकैः॥
Then in the battle that commenced Bhima, penetrating through the mouth of the Makara like array of the Kauravas, approached Bhishma and covered him over with arrows.

ततो भीष्मो महास्त्राणि पातयामास भारत। मोहयन् पाण्डुपुत्राणां व्यूढं सैन्यं महाहवे।॥
Thereupon Bhishma endued with great prowess, discharged powerful weapons that confounded in that fierce encounter the array of troops belonging to the sons of Pandu.

सम्मुह्यति तदा सैन्ये त्वरमाणो धनंजयः। भीष्मं शरसहस्रेण विव्याध रणमूर्धनि॥
Upon the confusion of the the force, Dhananjaya proceeding heavily, pierced Bhishma with a thousand shafts, at the van of battle.

प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि भीष्ममुक्तानि संयुगे। स्वेनानीकेन हृष्टेन युद्धाय समुपस्थितः॥
Having baffled in that battle the weapons discharged by Bhishma, Dhananjaya stood ready for the encounter, supported by his own division filled with joy.

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भारद्वाजमभाषत। पूर्वं दृष्ट्वा वधं घोरं बलस्य बलिना वरः॥ भ्रातृणां च वधं युद्धे स्मरमाणो महारथः। आचार्य सततं हि त्वं हितकामो ममानघ।॥ वयं हि त्वां समाश्रित्य भीष्मं चैव पितामहम्। देवानपि रणे जेतु प्रार्थयामो न संशयः॥ किमु पाण्डुसुतान् युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान्। स तथा कुरु भद्रं ते यथा वध्यन्ति पाण्डवाः॥
Thereupon king Duryodhana that foremost of those endued with strength that great carwarrior seeing that terrible slaughter of his army and remembering the death of his brothers, in the battle, speedily approached the son of Bharadvaja, and addressing him said:-0 preceptor, O sinless one, you are my constant well-wisher. Relaying on you as also on the grandsire, we expect without doubt to conquer in battle even the very celestial themselves.

द्रोण उवाच बालिशस्त्वं न जानीषे पाण्डवानां पराक्रमम्। न शक्या हि यथा जेतुं पाण्डवा हि महाबलाः॥ यथाबलं यथावीर्यं कर्म कुर्यामहं हि ते।
It is undoubtedly true that we are ambitious of subjugating the gods too by giving them defeat in battle-field if escorted by you and grandfather Bhishma. Again, it is not anyway a big mission to conquer Pandavas who already are devoid of power and valour both. Be it for all good to you. Do an attempt viable to kill all Pandavas.

एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणस्तव पुत्रेण मारिष। अभिनत् पाण्डवानीकं प्रेक्षमाणस्य सात्यकेः॥
Thus spoken to on the field by your son, Drona penetrated the Pandava array even before the very eyes of Satyaki.

सात्यकिस्तु ततो द्रोणं वारयामास भारत। तयोः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम्॥
Thereat, O Bharata, Satyaki impeded the progress of Drona. Thereupon ensued an encounter that was fierce and terrible to look at.

शैनेयं तु रणे क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। अविध्यन्निशितैर्बाणैर्जत्रुदेशे हसन्निव॥
Then in that battle the highly powerful son of Bharadvaja, burning with rage as if smiling, struck the grandson of Shini with ten shafts on his shoulder-joint.

भीमसेनस्ततः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजमविध्यत। संरक्षनं सात्यकि राजन् द्रोणाच्छस्त्रभृतां वरात्॥
At this, Bhimasena waxing worth, pierced Bharadvaja with arrow, desirous O monarch, of rescuing Satyaki from Drona that foremost of all wielders of weapons.

ततो द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च तथा शल्यश्च मारिष। भीमसेनं रणे क्रुद्धाश्छादयांचक्रिरे शरैः॥
Thereat Drona and Bhishma and also Shalya, O sire, inflamed with rage, covered Bhimasena in that battle with a thick shower of) arrows.

तत्राभिमन्युः संक्रुद्धो द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष। विव्यधुनिशितैर्बाणैः सर्वांस्तानुद्यतायुधान्॥
Then, O sire, Abhimanyu waxing worth, and the sons of Draupadi also, pierced with their whetted shafts all those warriors with uplifted weapons.

द्रोणभीष्मौ तु संक्रुद्धावापतन्तौ महाबलौ। प्रत्युद्ययौ शिखण्डी तु महेष्वासो महाहवे॥
Then in that fierce battle, the mighty bowman Shikhandin rushed against Bhishma and Drona, both of great prowess, who inflamed with wrath, had fallen upon his own troops.

प्रगृह्य बलवद् वीरो धनुर्जलदनिःस्वनम्। अभ्यवर्षच्छरैस्तूर्ण छादयानो दिवाकरम्॥
Grasping a every tough bow of which the twang resembled the rumble of the clouds, that hero speedily poured down a shower of arrows, shrouding the sun itself.

शिखण्डिनं समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहः। अवर्जयत संग्रामं स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मरन्।॥
But the grandsire of the Bharatas, meeting with Shikhandin in the battle avoided him, remembering the femininity of his sex.

ततो द्रोणो महाराज अभ्यद्रवत तं रणे। रक्षमाणस्तदा भीष्मं तव पुत्रेण चोदितः॥
Thereat, O mighty monarch, urged by your son, Drona rushed into the encounter, in order to protect Bhishma.

शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य द्रोणं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। अवर्जयत संत्रस्तो युगान्ताग्निमिवोल्बणम्॥
Shikhandin also encountering Drona the foremost of all wielders of weapons, shunned him out of feat, like one flying from the blazing fire that burns at the end of a Yuga.

ततो बलेन महता पुत्रस्तव विशाम्पते। जुगोप भीष्मासाद्य प्राथयानो महद् यशः॥
Then O ruler of earth, your son, supported by a mighty division, advanced to rescue Bhishma, out of a desire for securing great fame.

तथैव पाण्डवा राजन् पुरस्कृत्य धनंजयम्। भीष्ममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त जये कृत्वा दृढां मतिम्॥
So also, O monarch, the Pandavas firmly setting their heart upon victory rushed at Bhishma, placing Dhananjaya at their head.

तद् युद्धमभवद् घोरं देवानां दानवैरिव। जयमाकाङ्क्षतां संख्ये यशश्च सुमहाद्भुतम्॥
Then a fierce and wonderful encounter, like that between the celestial and the Asuras, ensued between those two hosts each desirous of winning victory and great fame in battle.